MADRID, 24 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish SailGP team was on the verge of competing in the final race of the New Zealand Grand Prix, which took place this weekend in the waters of Christchurch, although its good performance in the oceanic event allows it to move up one position to third. of the general classification.
Only two turns separated ‘Los Gallos’ from participating in the grand final after an intense fight with New Zealand, France and Canada, all on a day in which three rounds were played before the last and decisive one.
In the first of them, the F50 Victoria was third, coming back from seventh position. France, which led the race from the start – in which Rockwool Denmark collided with Canada – had to settle for second place after the New Zealanders passed them at the penultimate mark.
After a good second place in the next race, Diego Botín and his team competed for access to the final with New Zealand, France and Canada. The F50 Victoria passed the first mark of the third race in the lead, and remained in podium positions until the penultimate mark, when the ‘kiwis’ overtook them.
‘Los Gallos’, fourth in Christchurch, climb another step in the general classification and are now third, with 55 points, one more than France and five ahead of Rockwool Denmark. “It’s a shame we couldn’t be in the final, but it has been a very good event for the team. We have been very competitive and we are on the path to take another step and continue pushing,” said Botín.
The Spanish team competed this day with a configuration of seven on board with Diego Botín (pilot), Florian Trittel (wing trimmer), Joel Rodríguez (flight controller), Nicole van der Velden (strategist), Stewart Dodson, Joan Cardona and Bernardo Freitas (grinders). The next SailGP event will be in Bermuda on May 4 and 5.